Breast augmentation is one of the most common and the most popular operation in cosmetic surgery. Whatever the reason might be for deciding on this kind of surgery, you can be almost certain that everything is going to go as planned. This is a routine operation which quickly gives a nice result.

Who Should Do It?

Any woman who feels that her breasts are too small is a potential candidate for this sort of surgery. It’s up to medicinal team of the hospital whether the health condition of the person allows them to have the surgery.

How is the Breast Augmentation Done?

Prostheses used for breast augmentation can be placed either under the fascia or below the muscle (just below the gland). When it comes to young women who have yet to have children, that is to breastfeed, the implants are placed under the muscle, i.e. away from the glandular tissue of the breast. For other patients, the latest techniques of placing implants under the fascia usually applied.

Two Types of Implants

It is very important that during the initial examination, you tell your surgeon what exactly you want. You need to be clear and tell exactly what kind of breasts you want and what you expect from the surgery. The surgeon will then review all of the options, including the position of the cut, as well as the size, shape and volume of the implant.

Generally, there are two possibilities – round or anatomical implants (natural form). When the cosmetic surgeon gives you all the details related to both kinds of implants, making the final decision will not be that hard.

Recovery

The whole procedure lasts for a couple of hours, while the patient is advised to stay in the hospital for a day. When it comes to pain after the surgery, it is very rare. In fact, if the implants are placed under the muscle, pain and discomfort are impossible to happen.

The first month after the surgery is crucial. It is important not to lift heavy stuff nor do any kind of physical work. In fact, it is advisable that during that period you avoid driving a car. To keep the wound protected and the implants in the right place, wearing a special medicinal bra is recommended.

Breast augmentation (Boob jobs) to this day remain one the most common plastic surgeries. Voluptuous breasts have been a sign of womanhood and fertility throughout the ages and are still considered as one of the sexiest and most desired attributes of a woman. Women go under the knife for three main reasons: increasing breast size due to aesthetic purpose, reconstructive surgery following trauma and fixing developmental defects.

Silicone or Saline?

There are two types of implants: silicone and saline. Silicone implants are filled with silicone gel, while saline implants are filled with sterile salt water. While silicone implants supposedly feel more natural, they are also more prone to complications and are generally less safe than the saline ones. A breast augmentation surgery will cost you anywhere between 5000 $ and 10.000$. Additionally, silicone implants cost an average of 1000 $ more.

How is the procedure done?

The patient is given general anesthesia and is not awake during the procedure which lasts one to two hours. Depending on the type of implant and the individual patient, the surgeon will cut under the breast, around the nipple or under the arms to insert the implants. The implant is placed through the incision into a pocket, bellow or above the chest muscle, and closed up with stitches when the implants are in place. After surgery the breasts are covered with gauze and the patient will be required to wear a surgical bra while they heal. Healing is painful and uncomfortable, requiring some patients to resolve to over the counter pain killers. It’s necessary to hold off any physical activity and heavy lifting during the healing process. With the correct aftercare, the swelling goes down and the scars disappear within a few weeks.

A few things to remember

Like any surgery, Breast augmentation does not come without any risk involved. As silicone is poisonous to the body it is necessary for a woman to get an MRI scan every two years to ensure her implants are intact. Surgery might also affect the ability to breastfeed.

Some patients suffer from post-surgery complications like the loss of sensitivity in the nipple area and persisting pains. It’s also important to remember that the majority of women that undergo the surgery must eventually follow up with additional procedures. The longer the implants are in place, the higher the risk of complications. Most common complications are damaged leaking implants and the development of a scar shell around it; both requiring the implants to be either removed or replaced with new ones.

No surgery, cosmetic or not, comes without risk. It is important to review all the data before deciding to undergo a breast augmentation. It might not fit into every woman’s lifestyle and the cons might outweigh the pros. Many women, however, are extremely happy with their results and claim the procedure has massively improved their quality of life.